Mariners closer Fernando Rodney is off to Korea on a goodwill trip where he will visit U.S. soldiers on a military base and participate in a youth baseball camp while there. His schedule also includes lunch at the Dominican Republic Embassy, a visit to a school for the blind and a meet-and-greet with the 2014 Little League champions from South Korea (whom he has a fun connection with).

MLB.com writer Jesse Sanchez caught up with Fernando from the Miami Airport before taking off on his trip. Upon returning from Korea, Rodney will head straight to Seattle to participate in FanFest Jan. 24-25.

The Washington State University Cougar Baseball team is currently in the Dominican Republic for a five-game International tour. The Cougars got a chance to meet Mariners All-Star closer Fernando Rodney yesterday before their game in Boca Chica. Rodney threw out the ceremonial first pitch and posed for photos with the Cougar Baseball team.

The Cougars will complete their five-game schedule in the DR with an exhibition game vs. a group of Mariners players at the new Dominican Academy.

Mariners closer Fernando Rodney recorded his 200th career save this afternoon, becoming just the 45th pitcher in Major League history to record 200 saves. Rodney is 6th among active pitchers in saves, trailing only Joe Nathan (362), Francisco Rodriguez (333), Jonathan Papelbon (310), Jose Valverde (288) and Huston Street (260).

American League All-Star manager John Farrell of the Boston Red Sox announced today, in conjunction with Major League Baseball, that Seattle Mariners closer Fernando Rodney will replace David Price of the Tampa Bay Rays on the A.L.’s active roster for the 85th All-Star Game.

Price, a four-time All-Star who was selected this year by Farrell, will be inactive in the All-Star Game but is invited to attend with full All-Star honors. Rodney, 37, is now a two-time All-Star. He and Price, who were then Rays teammates, both represented the A.L. in the 2012 Midsummer Classic. In his first year in the Pacific Northwest, Rodney has posted a 1.98 ERA and an A.L-leading 27 saves in 37 games. The Dominican Republic native has struck out 42 batters in 36.1 innings (29 H, 12 BB). Rodney joins teammates Felix Hernandez, Robinson Cano and Kyle Seager on the A.L.’s active roster.

This is the first time that the Mariners will have at least four All-Star representatives since Ichiro Suzuki, Edgar Martinez, Jamie Moyer, Shigetoshi Hasegawa and Bret Boone represented the team in 2003.